New radios just released.

[WSAC829]

Well, it finally arrived. Sadly, it’s going back. Mine must have been from the first batch. Still some major issues present.
1. Doesn’t fully power off. The face button backlights for PWR and POW stay lit when it's powered off.
2. SCAN button doesn’t work because it’s stuck in VFO mode. Needs to be in Channel mode for scan to work.
3. BAND button doesn’t work, so again, stuck in VFO mode. No way to access BAND selection / channel mode.
4. USB port on top of radio is empty. No hardware inside.
5. S-Meter is super inaccurate on SSB. Everything is S7 - +20. Most every received SSB signal is +20.
6. Squelch control only works for FM. (how stupid is that?)
Other notable things missing in this radio are:
1. No NB/ANL/Hi-Cut or NRC options.
2. No RF gain option.
3. No MIC gain option.
4. No CTCSS/DCS option.
5. No external speaker jack.
6. No dedicated RIT or RX clarifier control. (works as unlocked clarifier so TX+RX follows the freq adjustments)

Now if they iron out these issues and some or all of the lacking features it’d be an awesome little rig. I like the form factor and size (roughly 7x7x2). The internal speaker sounds great for its size. It sounds relatively full and not tinny. The controls/buttons that do work are dead simple to use and navigate. AM TX audio is loud. SSB TX audio is decent. FM TX audio is decent. The face buttons are backlit and auto shut off after a few seconds. They come back on when any button is used or the VFO knob is adjusted. I like that feature.

If and when they release v2, if everything above gets fixed and added, it’d be a hell of a nice budget rig. The general coverage RX is an awesome feature and works quite well, but would work better with adjustable RF gain added. TX is actually 25-30Mhz currently, not 21-30 as advertised according to the included user manual.

Anyway, here’s the box it came in, the box opened, the radio powered up, and i attached an audio recording (used my phone) of the general coverage RX listening to 80 Meter SSB.

 

[AB5ID]

That's a little bit of a bummer but thank you for the review.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Sorry it didn't work out, but thanks for the in-depth review. I hope they do get it figured out because that's a great size and it's a doable feature set that you listed. There seems to be a lot of interest in the radio, so hopefully they'll jump on it quickly.

 

[WSAC829]

Right? It HAS potential. They could add the RF/MIC gain and NB/ANL/NRC and CTCSS/DCS options to the menu that already exists. No external speaker jack isn’t a deal breaker, but would be nice. The jack that’s in the back is actually for a CW keyer. Fix the firmware bugs, and add in those features and i’d buy the revised version in a heartbeat if the price point stays under $200.

 

[WSAC829]

Ok. Small update. After more internet searching, channel mode / vfo mode switching works. Once in channel mode, the band button works and TX does indeed work down to 21Mhz. The method to switch back and forth is a bit odd. You have to enter 147258 on the mics keypad then hit the menu button on the mic to switch from vfo mode to channel mode. It should be easier than that, but it is what it is.



Also once in channel mode the radio remembers what “mode” you were in on a per channel basis. By default everything is USB. I had to manually set ch1-34 as AM, and 35-40 as LSB. Now when i flip through the channels the modes stay as i set them per channel. So that’s kind of cool. The other issues listed still remain, but channel/vfo mode switching does work. Scan still does not even in channel mode.

 

[kc2asb]

Thanks for the very detailed review. Sorry to hear that it didn't work out. It has a lot of potential, but quality control with many of these brands is lacking and those are a lot of features to squeeze in at that price point.

Maybe they will work out the bugs in later batches.

 

[WSAC829]

Hope so. At least add NB/ANL to it. It’s a basic function that 99.9% of every radio ever made has. I have it set up as a base for testing and without a NB it’s picking up engine noise from random cars driving by my house. I can’t imagine how noisy this radio would be in a mobile installation.

 

[kc2asb]

Hope so. At least add NB/ANL to it. It’s a basic function that 99.9% of every radio ever made has. I have it set up as a base for testing and without a NB it’s picking up engine noise from random cars driving by my house. I can’t imagine how noisy this radio would be in a mobile installation.

That is a huge oversight. Maybe it was intentional to meet the price point? I guess all you can do is watch the reviews and see if these issues are corrected.

 

[WSAC829]

Maybe it was intentional to meet the price point?

I’d doubt that honestly. Look at the AnyTone Ares II / QT40. Same price point, but with every bell and whistle included (NB/ANL/NRC/Echo/RB/RX+TX clarifier/Adjustable squelch for every mode/AM/FM/CW/SSB/Etc), and WX / VHF RX. If they can do all that for $150-$200 then so should this. In all fairness though, the original Ares was not that great. The Ares II fixed all the old issues and included more stuff as the original didn't even have SSB. So i guess we just wait for v2 of the 6699 and hope it's as good as it could be.

 

[kc2asb]

I’d doubt that honestly. Look at the AnyTone Ares II / QT40. Same price point, but with every bell and whistle included (NB/ANL/NRC/Echo/RB/RX+TX clarifier/Adjustable squelch for every mode/AM/FM/CW/SSB/Etc), and WX / VHF RX. If they can do all that for $150-$200 then so should this. In all fairness though, the original Ares was not that great. The Ares II fixed all the old issues and included more stuff as the original didn't even have SSB. So i guess we just wait for v2 of the 6699 and hope it's as good as it could be.

Fair points. I'm not sure how much the general coverage receiver adds to the 6699's final price, but considering the cheap price some small shortwave portables sell for, my guess is that it's not significant. In any case, I agree with you, NB/ANL should be included.

I like the classic look of that AnyTone. Reminds me of my old Grant LT.

 

[EAFrizzle]

I don't see any reason that a full-featured* 10-15 meter export rig with a full HF receiver can't be done well in that size chassis at the ~$200-230 price point or below. Whoever makes a good one first is goint to sell a lot of units.

People are getting more interested in HF and SWL these days. A CB with a shortwave receiver for a couple of hundred would be a great radio to get both sets of users to expand their operations. I love my G90s, but you're looking at the half a kilobuck range; something 30-40% of that price will sell well.


Someone is going to get it right, and sooner rather than later. 👍

 

[slowmover]

I’d doubt that honestly. Look at the AnyTone Ares II / QT40. Same price point, but with every bell and whistle included (NB/ANL/NRC/Echo/RB/RX+TX clarifier/Adjustable squelch for every mode/AM/FM/CW/SSB/Etc), and WX / VHF RX. If they can do all that for $150-$200 then so should this. In all fairness though, the original Ares was not that great. The Ares II fixed all the old issues and included more stuff as the original didn't even have SSB. So i guess we just wait for v2 of the 6699 and hope it's as good as it could be.

View attachment 190049

The latest Flash Bundle of the RadiOddity QT40 is $169 for (4) items plus radio.

As a reference Price Entry Point this is astonishing given the performance. My mainly equivalent big truck radio rig had better DSP and 2X the TX power, but it was $675 plus associated cabling & power concerns.

Add: DRX-901 Speaker ($60)
KL-503 amp ($240)

To be mobile King of the Road it still is $200 less.

That $200+ is nice chunk from the antenna system price of $350 in my pickup:

Texas 1800 ($80)
Breedlove 601 + plate ($130)
Palomar Feed Choke ($70)
Palomar Radio Filter ($70)

$850-900 for most everything versus the $1,200 I have in older gear?

What a great starting point given what’s included in the sale!!

— Bump it $100 to the QT80 and delete the 503.
$750.

This total rig price doesn’t cover the garage amps which some buy.

Call it $200 or $300 for the barebones start.
A GEEK Radio at under $300 ought to do

“What’ll it be, boys, a gennywine Pilipino Cobra 19 at $119.95, or a kinda weird GEEK radio? Same 1989 price”.

.

 

[WSAC829]

Call me crazy, but the more i play with this thing, the more i like it. Sure it’s unpolished and could use some refinements, but its RX is pretty good (even without NB/ANL/Hi-Cut/NRC), and its TX audio is amazing. My buddy recorded my transmission talking to another guy 20 miles away last night on his phone and sent the video to me. Wow! LOUD punchy SSB audio with its stock mic. I knew it barked on AM, but now i know SSB is just as loud.

The receiver is better than some radios i’ve had before, and it picks out the weakest of signals (even though it's a tad static riddled). I think they may have enabled hi-cut/ANL internally as it’s pretty quiet when idle and i have no problem hearing or understanding other weak/distant stations. I have a DSP/NRC board laying around from an old Am-Comm DSP speaker that will easily fit inside the case. Since there is no external speaker jack i’d just hardwire it internally. That’d give it the edge it needs on RX.

This radio is marketed as a CB, not a 10 meter radio, or 10-15 meter HF radio. So with that in mind, it works great for what it's marketed as. The wide band TX coverage and general 1-30Mhz RX are just added bonuses. No modification needed either. Just hook it up, switch to channel mode, select band D and talk away.

AliExpress accepted my return request and i have 15 days left before i have to drop it off at USPS. My thinking is what if there won't be a v2 of this thing. The manufacturer (YAMAO) could just sell the remaining stock and scrap it. I’d then have a semi rare radio that talks like a big rig with extended RX coverage. So i’m torn. Send it back and wait 3-4 weeks for my refund, or keep it and add in the DSP board and enjoy it for what it is. It was only $160, so it's not like it broke the bank or anything. Decisions, decisions…..

 

[slowmover]

Add the DSP and proudly wear the GEEK badge.

 

[WSAC829]

Done. Decided to keep it and DSP it. That was not an easy task. Had to remove and dismantle the entire front face to get to the internal speaker connections. It now resides in my F150 where the ashtray use to be. Pulled the Uniden 885 CB/Scanner combo out of that spot and put it in the new van the wife and i will be using for traveling.

Now i’m not telling anybody to go buy one of these. Not yet anyway. Wait and see if a v2 comes to light. I just decided to keep mine because it was relatively cheap, i can deal with its quirks and shortcomings, and i just really kind of like the thing. It’s different.

Anyway, here it is mounted inside the dash. Don’t worry, it comes with a fan on its heatsink, and my F150 has loads of room behind where it’s mounted for airflow.

 

[slowmover]

You’ll be, The V.1 Chief Geek, for this radio going forward.

Wear that badge with pride!

Kinda like me with my 9,000-lb (loaded to GVWR) 1T Dodge Cummins. Took 16-years to finally have someone exceed my highway mpg in an adequate test. He was a good deal lighter in total weight — trucks close to identical — but his tuned 30-MPG (Auto Trans) @ 125-miles overtook my stock 27-MPG (Manual Trans) @ 90k-miles of records.

(Never was a competition, it was my exhortation of this is possible for those to whom it mattered got me the CTD Nerd gimme cap. “Details Matter” it says on the backside. Too much work, was the usual response; i.e., “crickets”).

— Put up a video. Someone’s already plotting your downfall. We won’t tell anyone you installed a quarter-wave on the roof while stationary at the inland ocean of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore . . .



. . or that you’d moved the Phonema Rhea-3 to the truck.

“Pesky hobbitses”, (details unknown) he’ll decry.

.

 

[WSAC829]

Had to pick up and drop off my parents at the airport today. Afterwards i fired up the 6699 on my way home. No issues with engine noise or loud static, etc. It sounded really nice on RX in a mobile setting. Also talked to Ireland on it with my whopping 2 foot Diesel hood mounted fiberglass whip. I know propagation is near perfect right now in the midwest finally after 6 months of mostly silence, but color me impressed. I do not regret keeping it and DSP modding it.

 

[slowmover]

Had to pick up and drop off my parents at the airport today. Afterwards i fired up the 6699 on my way home. No issues with engine noise or loud static, etc. It sounded really nice on RX in a mobile setting. Also talked to Ireland on it with my whopping 2 foot Diesel hood mounted fiberglass whip. I know propagation is near perfect right now in the midwest finally after 6 months of mostly silence, but color me impressed. I do not regret keeping it and DSP modding it.

These states have the natural advantage of terrain & a population more geared towards the technical, per capita.



The 132-mile roundtrip for me to pick up someone at D/FW International would likely have had a lower number of potential AM-19 contacts, per capita, despite the greater number, in aggregate.

Living where I do it’s crucial to make note of mobile versus base against geographical region to get a full picture of anecdotal use.

Standards (install & test, etc) are higher on RR than with some other sites; also.

— Skip has been loud & clear lately, so I’m free to ignore “2’ hood mount antenna” as the flip-side of the region-advantage is that it also masks range deficiencies; hearing several conversations at once where the minimum two men involved don’t hear the ones at distance. This helps explain why one sees online that a man doesn't want greater range. Seems counterintuitive. He is often from this area or is bound to a single major metro.

For anyone learning to read reviews, stories and other anecdote — mine included — it always helps to know Where & How. (Mine may have been from any part of the country; I try to remember to denote that).

So the above includes: Weekday.

Pretty easy, now, to make plans to get one of these radios given it holds out (reliability), and that newer ones include that which was noted above.

“The noise-free permanent installation is likeliest to get used”. Great example.


I love Midwest reports!

.

 

[K9KLC]

Also talked to Ireland on it with my whopping 2 foot Diesel hood mounted fiberglass whip

When skip's good, it's good!!! Must be the upgraded super modded 2 footer eh?? Reminds me of talking skip off a MM on my BBQ grill.

 

[EAFrizzle]

When skip's good, it's good!!! Must be the upgraded super modded 2 footer eh?? Reminds me of talking skip off a MM on my BBQ grill.

If you had a Xiegu G90, you could skip the mag mount and just use the grill for an antenna. 😉